STORAGE OF PLANTS 151 



dried-up or dead plant to you and expect a good one in return the 

 following Spring. 



The time to attend to such trouble is when the plants come 

 to you in Fall, for you are money ahead by not taking in such 

 stock; or at least let your customer know the condition of the 

 plants, and what to expect from them. Even if he is disappointed 

 and your competitor is foolish enough to take them in, you are 

 still ahead. 



There is often a question as to the proper charge for storing 

 Boxwoods, but it is reaUy easy to figure. No one can store any 

 kind of plant, no matter how small, for less than fifty cents per 

 month, and that for not less than a period of six months. It is 

 well worth that for a Boxwood two or three feet in height, and there 

 should be a charge of at least one dollar per pair for cartage each 

 way, if you don't have to go too far. Larger stock should be charged 

 for accordingly. It is always better to charge enough, so you can 

 take the best possible care of the stock, than to be satisfied with 

 almost anything and not take care of the plants. 



How TO Avoid Difficulties 



Storing any kind of plants can be made a most disagreeable 

 feature of the retail grower's business.' At best it isn't always 

 pleasant, but you can't very well get along without it. You have to 

 do it in order to oblige your customers and they have no one else 

 to go to, so it is for you to make the best of it and adopt a system 

 whereby you can avoid unpleasant feelings. To begin with, no 

 one should be allowed to bring a plant in until either yourself or 

 the man in charge of the place has had a chance to examine it as 

 to its condition. Many a dose of white fly has been introduced 

 and given a new home by being brought in along with an old fern 

 or some other pet; and so with scale and other troubles. Or a good 

 lady will come in and want to know "What became of the beautiful 

 palm I left here three months ago?" and no one wiU know any- 

 thing about it. Or you may hunt for two hours all through the 

 palm house for a Rubber Plant, bigger and better than any you 

 have on hand, only to have the delivery boy recall a week later 

 that he brought the plant in, that it was in an 8-in. pot, seven 

 feet tall with three leaves at the very top— and that "Billy threw 

 it out." 



No one need say that there is no way to prevent such poor 

 management; it is a simple matter to avoid it. You cannot possibly 

 invite trouble easier than to store old Boston Ferns and the easiest 

 way to avoid doing so is not to accept them. There are, of course, 

 exceptions. You may have a good customer and one you can reason 

 with who wants you to store a good fern; but between it and one 



